Article handling apparatus



June 22, 1943. J, s. S ULL 2,322,551

ARTI OLE. HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR J. 5. 670.4 1.

ATTOR/Vf) June 22, 1943. J,s,sw. 2,322,551

AR'II CLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I aa g 2 a 75-:

a: [1mm 2 M H J I: i W'Pi June 22, 1943. J. s. STUL L 2,322,551

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5r [A74A ran/v:

June 22, 1943.

J. S. STULL ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 2 m2 Fla/3 2 I I30 I I20 M JkaaINVf/VTOR d. 5.57041 Patented June 22, 1943 ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUSJohn S. Stull, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationFebruary 28, 1942, Serial No. 432,8'75

6 Claims.

This invention relates to article handling apparatus and moreparticularly to an apparatus for intermittently feeding article blanksto a working position and thereafter transferring the worked articlestherefrom.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for rapidly andaccurately intermittently feeding article blanks to a working positionand thereafter transferring the worked articles therefrom.

In accordance with the generalfeatures of this invention, there isprovided in one embodiment thereof a fixture for use on a machine forgrinding peripheral contours on the leading ends of a train ofpiano-wire blanks, to be used as burnishing tools for cleaning switchcontacts in telephone ystems. Specifically, the fixture, which isattached to a horizontally movable table of th machine, comprises ahand-actuated lever controlled device for intermittently feeding toolblanks from a magazine along the longitudinal axis of a continuouslydriven air motor to an open chuck carried by the motor rotor. Theforward movement of the blanks, after the ejection of a finished blank,is limited by the following blank engaging a stop surface provided onmeans for transferring the finished tool to a container. The blank isground by a grinding wheel to the desired shape on the end of the blankwhen the table carrying the fixture is moved laterally under the T tooland the transfer means moves into operative position to transfer thetool, which is then ejected by the following blank which engages thestop surface. Thereafter, the chuck is closed to grip the followingblank and the transfer means is moved to carry and deposit thepreviously ground tool in a container and finally the table is moved tocarry the chucked blank under the grinding wheel.

Other objects and advantages of th s invention will more fully appearfrom the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is'a fragmentary plan View of agrinding apparatus having a fixture embodying the features of thisinvention attached thereto;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections taken on theline 22 and 3-1!, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of Fig. I 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of Fig. 1 showing the tooltransfer means in position for receiving a finished tool;

Fig. '7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on theline I--'I of Fig. 6, showing the tool blank on the anvil and thegrinding wheel in position for operating thereon;

Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical view taken on the line88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line III-I0 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of ,Fig. 1, showing thechuck actuating mechanism in a normal position;

Fig. 12 is a similar fragmentary view of another position of themechanism of Fig. ll, and

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line I3I3 of Fig. 12.

One embodiment of the fixture of this invention is shown in the drawingsapplied to the intermittent feeding of piano-wire blanks Ill in trainformation (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and '7) from a supply magazine II to accuratelypresent the leading ends of successive blanks at a predeterminedposition, following which (Fig. '7) they are peripherally ground to forma tapered and ballshaped end on the blank, as indicated at I2. Theblanks Ill are of small dimensions, being approximately of .025 diameterand one and onequarter inches in length. 1

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 1, I3 represents areciprocatory work holding tableof a surface grinder of a well-knowncommercial type, indicated in general at I4. By means of suitableoperating connections (not shown) between a hand Wheel I5 and the tableI3, the latter is reciprocated to carry the blank to be ground to andfro under a continuously driven grinding wheel I6 (Figs. 1, 7 and 9).Since the grinding machine, which includes the table I3, hand wheel I5and grinding wheel I6, herebefore briefly described, are well known inthe art of grinding, a more complete description thereof is not believednecessary to a full understanding of the present invention, except forthe grinding wheel, which is formed with a suitable at their upper endsthrough apertures in the plate and at their lower ends into a T-shapedslot 2| of the table. Carried upon the base plate I9 is the magazine(Figs. 1, 2 and 3), in which is stored a supply of wire blanks ID. Themagazine includes a base member 24 secured to the plate l9 by a thumbscrew 25 and attached at opposite sides to the base member are sideplates 26. Vertically slidable at one side face on the base 24 and atopposite vertical edges on projecting portions 21 of the side plates 26is a blank transferring and aligning plate 28, the opposite side of theplate being slidable on a cover plate 30, which is secured to theprojecting portion of the side plates 26. A tension spring 3|, havingopposite ends attached to pins 32 and 33 fixed to the slidable blanktransferring and cover plates 28 and 30, respectively, serves tonormally maintain the plate 28 in its lowermost position (Fig. 3) Theopposed vertical faces of the blank transferring plate 23 and the basemember 24 are slotted in a horizontal direction, as indicated at 34 and35, respectively (Figs. 3 and 4) the plate 28 being provided with aplurality of slots 34 and the stationary member 24 with a single slot.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the supply of blanks H) in themagazine is supported mainly upon arcuate shaped spaced surfaces 38 ofthe base member 24 and the inner face of the slidable plate 28, thelength of the blanks I!) being slightly less than the distance betweenthe opposed inner faces of the side plates 26. In the normal loweredposition of the slidable plate 28, as limited by a roller 39 carriedthereon, engaging a surface 49 of a slidable cam plate 4|, the upperslot 34 of the plate 28 lies slightly below the slot 35 (Fig. 4) of thebase member 24.

In the operation of the fixture IS the slidable blank transferring plate28 is moved upwardly and downwardly by the slidable cam plate 4| and foreach complete reciprocation of the plate 28 a blank I 6 is entered inthe slot 35 from one or the other of the slots 34. When the slots 34 aremoved above the slot 35 and into the supply of blanks l6, blanks willmove into any of the slots 35 which are empty and when the slots 34 movedownwardly, the blanks engage a wire leaf spring 42 fixed at its lowerend to the base member 24. The spring 42 (Figs. 3 and 4) is entered in avertical slot 45 in the slidable blank transferring plate 28 withitsupper end lying in the path of the blanks I9 carried in the slots 34and is adapted to bear thereagainst and move the first blank l9, alignedwith the slot 35 and carried in a slot 34. as it passes the slot 35 intothe latter slot. This may occur either in the upward or downwardmovement of the plate 28. This insures that a blank I will at all timesbe carried in the stationary slot 35 ready to be fed forward. Attachedby supports 46 to the base plate |9 at .the upper side of the magazineII, as viewed in (Fig. 2) having its bore 50 axially aligned with theblank I9 carried in the magazine slot 35. the

lease a blank l0 fed thereinto from the bushi g 49, in a manner to bepresently described, the chuck being momentarily stalled during theopening and closing thereof. The details of the chuck 53 are not shownsince they are not believed necessary to an understanding of the presentinvention.

The blanks ID are fed one by one from the magazine slot 35 and apertures5| into abutting train formation through the axis of the motor and tothe chuck 53 by a plunger 54 (Fig. 2) having a diameter similar to thatof the blanks and movable through the magazine slot 35, which isstationary. The plunger 54 is attached to a piston-like member 55,slidable in a cylinder 56 closed at one end by shouldered plug 59. Acompression spring 60, carried in the cylinder 56 with its opposite endsabutting the opposed inner end faces of the piston 55 and the plug 59serves to normally maintain the piston carrying the plunger 54 abuttingan apertured end wall of the cylinder 56, the plunger extending throughand being slidable in the apertured cylinder end wall. The cylinder 56is longitudinally slidable in a stationary bearing member 6| fixed tothe base plate l9. Attached to the bottom wall of the cylinder 56 is acylinder actuator block 62, which extends through a slot 65 (Fig. 10) inthe member 6|. The means for actuating the block 62 will be describedhereinafter. In the operation of the apparatus, the block 62, which isshown in its normal position (Fig. 2), is moved to the left and thecylinder 56 and plug 59 move therewith and through the compressionspring 60 the piston 55 and plunger 54 are likewise advanced, theplunger yielding when the leading blank reaches a predeterminedposition.

Above the outer end of the chuck 53, as viewed in Fig. 1, and also shownin Figs. 6, '7; and 9, is a stationary anvil 66, which is secured to thebase plate Hi. The anvil 66 is formed with an upper shouldered face(Fig. 9) which provides a vertical thrust face 6'! against which reststhe outer end of the blank I0 during the grinding thereof by the wheel|6, which rotates in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9) to preventdeflection of the blank.

The tool receiving and transfer means, indicated in general at 58 (Figs.1 and 6) comprises a pivotal member 69 having an integral vertical post12 journalled in an irregularly shaped base 13 fixed to the base plate[9. A torsion spring 14, coiled around the post 72, with its oppositeends anchored to pins l5 secured to the member 69,

and the base 13 serve to constantly urge the member 69 in acounterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 6, where themember abuts a stop'pin 76 carried in a plate 19 secured to the upperface of the base 13, the ground tool being ejected onto the plate 19.The pivotal member 69, in its movement, slides upon the upper face ofthe plate 19 and, at its free end adjacent the anvil 66, is formed atits left side with an extending portion having a downwardly inclinedface 86, which, at its junction with an extreme end face 8| of themember 69, is disposed below the upper face of the plate 19 (Figs. '7and 8) and the latter face is beveled, as indicated at 82, to permit theend face 8| to extend below the upper face of the plate. The end face 8|which is vertical and relieved at its right hand end (Figs. 6 and 8)serves as a stop face for the leading blank l0 to be ground during thefeeding of the blanks from the magazine H by the plunger 54. Attached tothe upper face of the pivotal member 69 by thumb screws 83 is an angleplate 86 having its vertical short arm suitably laterally spaced Acontainer, indicated at81 (Figs; l and 6) is provided for receivingtheground tools I as the transfer means 68 is moved to its normalposition, as shown in Fig. 1. The containerBl is attached to ablock 88Which is'provided with a handle 89 and in placing the container inposition for receiving a quantity of ground tools the block is merelyslid upon" the base I3 until the leading end and side wallsabutangular'ly arranged vertical faces 9!] of the base 13'.

In this position of the container 81', it will lie below the plate .9and its side 'wall, which is abut'ting the face 99 of the base 13, asclearly shown in Fig. 6,

will be to the right of the left edge of the plate 19. Thus. as theground tool I0 is swept over the plate l9 by the inclined advancing face80' of the transfer means 68, it will drop from the plate T9 into thecontainer 87.

The means for opening the chuck 53 to release a ground tool I0, movingthe tool transfer means 68 to the position shown in Fig. 6 for receivingthe ejected tool from the chuck and feeding a tool blank 50 into theopen chuck from the train of blanks being fed from the magazine I I,which is effected simultaneously with the ejection of the ground tooltherefrom, moving the transfer means to position the stop face 80thereof in the path of the tool blank, closing the chuck and moving thetransfer means to deposit the ground tool in the container,.all in timedrelation to complete a cycle operation of the fixture I8, will now bedescribed.

tween opposite ends of the notch I20 of the cam plate i0! is a cam faceI. Lying in the path of the cam face II! in the normal lowered positionof the cam bar IllIJ (Figs. 1 and 1.1) is a spring pressed dog I22pivotally carried upon the vertical arm of a bell crank levertI23pivoted at $2 4 to the fixture base plate I9. The horizontal arm of thelever I23 extends under a flanged v actuator sleeve I26 for the chuck53, the lever Pivoted at 93 (Fig. 1) to a bar 94 fixed to thereciprocatory table I3 is a hand lever 95, which is pivotally connected(Figs. 1, 2 and to the a slot 91 in the lever and threaded into theblock.

Mounted for reciprocatory'.moveme1itupon the upper face of the fixturebase plate I9 is a cam carrying bar Hill, which is rectilinearly guidedupon the table by a plurality of flanged rollers in! engaging oppositelongitudinal edges of the bar. The bar Hill is pivotally connected tothe hand lever 95 by a shouldered screw I02 extending through aslot I33in the lever and bolted to the bar (Figs. 1 and 2'). Secured to theupper face of the bar I00 are two cam plates I06 and t! for actuatingthe ground tool transfer means 58 and the clutch 53, respectively. Athird cam plate I08 is arranged below the cam plate I01 and cooperatestherewith in actuating, the clutch 53. The cam plate I05 is formed withtwo spaced reversely directed cam faces IE3, and III], an intermediatedwell face H3 and opposite end dwell faces H4 and H5. I

The cam plate I01 is provided with a camface In at its upper end and anotch. I a suitable distance therebelow, in its left hand edge, asviewed in Figs. 1 and 12. The cam plate I08, arranged below the camplate III'I, has its left hand edge disposed slightly within the similaredges of the cam plate I01 and bar IOEl, which latter edges are invertical alignment. Formed in the left hand edge of the cam plate I08;be-

arm carrying a roller I21 arranged to engage opposite annular innerfaces of the flanges on the chuck actuator sleeve I26 at predeterminedintervals in an operating cycle of the fixture. In the normal positionof the mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11', it will be assumed that ablank It has just been ground and following which the fixture I8 wasmoved from under the wheel I3 and the ground tool II) is still grippedby the rotating chuck 53'. Thus, in the position shown, the chuck 53 isclosed and a compression spring l-28', having its opposite ends engagingthe vertical arm' ofthe lever I23 and a stationary adjustable screw I29,serves to normally rock the lever H3 in a counterclockwise direction tomaintain the roller I2'I intermediate the flanges of the chuck actuatorsleeve I26 (Fig. 11). The movement of the lever I23 counterclockwise atthis period is limited by stop means to be presently referred to. Whenthe lever I23 is rocked clockwise, which occurs when the cam face ill.moving upwards, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 11, engages the dog I22, theroller I21 will move upward and press against the upper flange of thechuck actuator sleeve I26 and open the chuck.

The pivotal dog I22 is carried in a depression I30 in the lever I23 andin its normal position (Figs. 1 and 11) is held abutting a stop face I3Ion the lever by a torsion spring I32 coiled about a pin I34, whichpivotally supports the dog upon the lever, the spring having itsopposite ends anchored. to pins carried in the dog and lever. On theright hand face of the vertical arm of the I lever :23, below the dogI22, is a cam projection I35, which bears on the left hand edge of thecamplate H38. due to the action of the spring I28, thus providing a stopmeans for the lever I23 in the normal position of the fixture (Figs. 1and 11). It will be observed that whenever the cam projection I35 bearsupon the left hand edge of the plate I68 the roller I21 will be heldintermediate the fianges of the chuck actuator sleeve i 25" and thusnop'ressure, either upwardly to open the chuck or downwardly to closethe chuck, is being exerted on the sleeve, in which case the chuck 53 isfree to rotate. This position of the roller l2? continues while thefixture is in its normal position, withdrawn from the grinding wheel I5,as well as during the grinding operation.

During each upward and downward movement of the hand lever as viewed inFig. 1, the cam plate ll associated with the magazine II is given acomplete reciprocation and through the roller 39 they blank transferplate 23 of the magazine I! is raised and lowered in order to,v in themanner previously described, keep the slots 34 filled with blanks I0 sothat a blank will always lie in the slot 35 for transfer therefrom bythe plunger 54. The reciprocatory movements of the cam plate M areeffected by a connecting member 235 pinned at one end to the shoulderedcylinder plug 59 and at its opposite end to the cam plate.

In a clockwise or upward movement of the hand lever 95,. as viewed inFig. l. the blank feeding plunger 54, as well as the cam supporting barIIJ J, will move upwardly (Fig. l) or, as viewed in Fig. 2, to the leftwhen the handlever is likewise moved. The extent of this movement of thehand lever 95 is limited by the actuatorblock E2 engaging an end wallI33 (Fig. 2) of the slot 55 in the bearing member GI. -When the handlever 95 is movedcounterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 1, itsmovement is limited by a stop pin I59 carried on a bar I45 fixed to thefixture base plate I9.

In the normal lowered position of the cam bar IE the blank transfermeansfi is held in the position shown (Fig. 1), wherein it hadpreviously transferred and deposited'a finished blank Hit in thereceptacle 8?, against the action of the torsion spring 14 by a slidablecam bar I4! interposed between the cam plate l 06 at the dwell face I I4thereof and a projecting tooth I42 on the post 72 (Fig. 6) which carriesthe transfer means.

The operation of the fixture I5, referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2,11 and 12, assuming that the grinding wheel lfi and the motor 4? arebeing driven and the table I3 carrying the fixture has just beenlaterally moved by manipulating the hand. wheel I5 to carry the fixturefrom the under wheel and that a ground tool I0 is still gripped by thechuck 53 and a train of blanks is in position abutting the inner end ofth last ground blank is as follows:

The operator grasps the hand lever 95 and quickly rocks it upwardly andthen back to its starting position (Fig. 1). During the upward movementof the hand lever 55 the sliding cam bar lllfi, cam plate 4!. andplunger 54 are moved in a similar direction by means of the connectionspreviously described. As the cam bar lll l thus moves, the cam. face II7 rides against the dog I22, which results in the bell crank lever I23being rocked clockwise against the action of the spring I28 andcarryingthe roller I2! against the upper flange of the chuck actuator sleeve I26with sufilcient pressure to move the same and open the chuck 53, thusreleasing the ground tool It. Due to this pressure on the sleeve I26,the chuck is momentarily stalled. In timed relation with the opening ofthe chuck 53, the dwell face I I4 on the cam bar I59 moves upwardly awayfrom the outer end of the spring pressed cam bar I4l, which then movesto the right (Figs. 1 and 11) and onto the upwardly advancing cam faceE09 and thence onto the dwell face H3. This movement of the cam bar I4I,which engages at its inner end the tooth I42 on the post I2 carrying thetool transfer means 68 causes the latter means to move to the positionshown in Figs. 6 and -8, through the action of the spring I4, and is nowin operative positi-onfor. transferring the released ground tool. v

Thereafter, in the continued upward movement of the hand lever 95, theplunger 54 has'been advanced sufiiciently to transfer a blank ID fromthe slot 35 of the magazine II and into abutting engagement with therear blank in the train of blanks extending through the axis of themotor 41 and pushing the same forward ejects the leading ground blankfrom the open chuck onto the upper face of the plate I9 of the transfermeans 68, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 8. As the ground blank isejected, the following blank is fed into the chuck and in timed relationtherewith the pivotal transfer member 69 is slightly rocked clockwisedue to the upwardly moving cam face I It on the cam bar I60 moving intoengagement with the cam bar I4! and thus the stop face BI is positionedin the path of the advancing blank the left of the rotating grindingwheel I6.

Illa Upon this positioning of the stop face-BI the cam'bar MI isengaging the dwell face II5 of the cam bar I90. Thi position of the stopface 3| relative to the blank when the latter engages the stop face isshown in Fig. 8. During the period when the ground tool is being ejectedand the following blank positioned, a above described, the chuck53 isheld open due to the dog I22 ridingon the left hand edge of the camplate Ill! on the cam bar I95. Immediately thereafter the dog I22 snapsinto-the notch IZIJof the plate IIlI, as clearly shown in Fig. l2. Thispermits the bell crank lever I23 to rock counterclockwise due to theaction of the spring I28 and carrying the roller I21 against the lowerflange of the chuck actuator sleeve I28 with sufiicient pressure to movethe same and close the chuck 53 and thereby grippingvtheblank Id. Theextent of this latter movement of-thebell crank lever I23 is limited bythe cam'projection I35 on the lever stopping against theleft handvertical'face of .the cam plate I58 below the cam face IZI. This'pressure'on the sleeve I 25 momentarily stalls the upper end wall ofthe notch I20 and also the cam projection I35 on the bell crank leverI22 rides vup the cam face I2! and onto the left hand vertieal face ofthe. cam plate II18 and this serves to rock the lever clockwise to theposition shown in Figs, -1 and 11, wherein the roller I2'I' ispositioned intermediate the flanges of the chuck actuator sleeve I26and, consequently, no pressure is being exerted thereon to retard therotation of the chuck,

In timed relation to the closing of the chuck 53 and, its rotation todrive the blank II), as just described, the cam face I09 engages the endof the cam bar I4! and slides it to the left (Fig. 1), thus rocking thepivotal transfer member 69 with the last ground and ejected tool In(Fig. 8) across the upper face of the receiving plate I9 and into thecontainer 81. This completes a cycle of operation of the fixture I8,during an upward and downward movement of the hand lever 95,. whilepositioned, as shown in Fig. 1, at T0 grind the rotating blank ID thehand wheel I5 isirotated to reciprocate the table I3 carrying thefixture I8 to and fro under the grinding wheel I6."This returns. thefixture to the position shown in Fig. 1, ready for the next operatingcycle.

of .thegrinder I4 (Figs. 1 and 2), the outer vertical end face of thestop member lying in the path of an enlar ed head I46 on the pivot screw.95. for the hand lever and the actuator block 62.

In order to cool the blanks I0 during the grinding operation a blast of.air is directed thereon from a nozzle I41 (Figs, 1 and 6) supplied froma suitable source.

To prevent the last blank II] .fed into the motor bushing 49 fromcreeping backwards into the stationary slot 35 of the magazine II whereit would interfere with the supplying of blanks thereto in the operationof the blank transferring and aligning plate 26, a yieldable wire stopmember I48 (Figs. 2 and 5) is attached to the magazine side plate 26which lies adjacent the motor 41. The member M8 normally lies partiallyover the aperture 5| in the side plate 26 to prevent rearward movementof a blank from the bushing 49 and the arrangement is such that it iscammed laterally out of the way during the feeding of blanks into themotor bushing and then returns to its stop position.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been describedhereinbefore, it will be understood that many modifications may be madein the described apparatus without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An article handling apparatus comprising a rotatable chuck, a hollowspindle carrying said chuck, means for yieldably advancing an articlethrough said spindle into the chuck, an article receiving deviceincluding a member movable i into position to receive a finished articlefor transfer, said member having a portion effective in one position asa stop for a new article being inserted into the chuck, and means formoving said member first to receive the finished article and thereafterto position the stop portion for the new article.

2. An article handling apparatus comprising a rotatable chuck, a hollowspindle carrying said chuck, means for yieldably advancing an articlethrough said spindle into the chuck, an article receiving device havinga surface to receive a finished article, said device including anoscillatory member movable into position to receive the finished articlefor transfer from said surface, said member having a portion extendingbelow said surface effective in one position as a stop for a new articlebeing inserted into the chuck, and means for moving said member first toreceive the finished article and thereafter to position the stop portionfor the new article.

3. An article handling apparatus comprising a plurality of membersforming a container for holding articles in horizontal parallel stackedrelation, one of said members being movable and having a plurality ofhorizontal article receiving and transferring slots in its inner facealignable with an article receiving slot in an opposed face of one ofsaid other members and upon being moved in one direction permitting oneor more articles from said container to enter one or more of said slots,and means "for moving an article from one of the slots of said movablemember into said receiving slot during movement of said member.

4. An article handling apparatus comprising a plurality of membersforming a container for holding articles in horizontal parallel stackedrelation, one of said members being movable and having a plurality ofhorizontal article receiving and transferring slots in its inner facealignable with an article receiving slot in an opposed face of one ofsaid other members, means for operating said movable member whereby oneor more articles from said container will enter one or more of its saidslots during movement of said member in one direction, and yieldablemeans for moving an article from one of the slots of said movable memberinto said receiving slot during movement of said member.

5. An article handling apparatus comprising a plurality of membersforming a container for holding articles in horizontal parallel stackedrelation, one of said members being vertically reciprocative upon saidother members and having a plurality of article receiving andtransferring slots in its inner face alignable with an article receivingslot in an opposed face of one of said other members and upon beingmoved upwardly permitting one or more articles from said container toenter one or more of said slots, means for yieldably retaining saidmember in a lowered position, andmeans for moving an article from one ofthe slots of said movable member into said receiving slot duringmovement of said member in either direction.

6. An article handling apparatus comprising a plurality of membersforming a container for holding articles in horizontal parallel stackedrelation, one of said members being vertically reciprooative uponslideways on said other members and having a plurality of horizontalarticle receiving and transferring slots in its inner face alignablewith an article receiving slot in the opposed face of one of said othermembers, said latter slot being aligned with apertures in opposed sidemembers of the container, means including a common actuator foroperating said movable member whereby one or more articles from saidcontainer will enter one or more of its said slots during an upwardmovement of said member and an article carried in said receiving slotwill be ejected therefrom, and means for moving an article from one ofthe slots of said movable member into said receiving slot duringmovement of said member in either direction.

JOHN S. STULL.

